• Size

There are eightteen species of penguins, so the sizes the reach depends. Penguins range in size from the fairy penguin which only gets about 9 inches tall to the emperor penguin which can reach lengths up to 3-4 feet tall. Here are fourteen species, can you name the missing ones?

emperor Magellenic Humboldt Adelie chinstrap gentoo Fiordland crested

yellow-eyed fairy rockhopper (*two different species northern and southern) erect-crested Snares Island Galapagos royal

• Where are they found?

All penguins are found below the equator. The Galapagos penguin lives - guess where? You're right, the Galapagos Islands near the equator.

• What do they eat?

Penguins eat squid, octopus, fish and  krill.

• Highlights

Adult penguins are black and white, some have yellowto orange head feathers. The blue/fairy penguin has a blue tint to its feathers. Penguins are hatched from eggs. Depending upon the species, penguins lay one to two eggs at a time. Often only one chick survives.

Penguin chicks may be light to dark gray depending upon the species. When hatched they have very soft downy feathers. They keep the penguin chick warm, but are not waterproof, so the chick cannot go in to the water.

Since penguins are found in different habitats, predators vary. However, predators include sharks, killer whales, sea lions, and leopard seals.

Can penguins fly? No, none of them can fly -- through the air. They can, however, fly through the water. They swim by moving their flippers (wings) like other birds use their wings to fly. Some penguins can swim as fast as 8 mph. Scientists believe that the penguin (or its prehistoric relatives) never could fly, it has always been adapted as a ground bird.

On average penguins can live 15 to 20 years. Of course, not all live that long. In fact, many chicks do not survive their first year.

 

Want to know more? Read our 10 things you should know about Penguins

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